extreme violence in Egypt against Christians

On Sunday, the Blaze reported on violent clashes between Egypt’s military and Coptic Christians (the largest minority in the Middle Eastern nation). What purportedly started out as a peaceful protest against a recent church attack ended in extreme violence that drew thousands into the streets.

Below, see the startling video that has emerged showcasing Egypt’s military running down what appear to be protesters:

The clashes started outside the state television building along the Nile in Cairo and spread to nearby Tahrir Square and the area around it. The Associated Press reports that, “…protesters and military battled each other with rocks and firebombs, some tearing up pavement for ammunition and others collecting stones in boxes.

At one point, a group of youths with at least one riot policeman among them dragged a protester by his legs for a long distance.” Al-Jazeera has more on the clash:

According to the BBC, the protesters were upset over the military council’s perceived leniency in dealing with individuals responsible for recent anti-Christian attacks. Considering Egypt’s frail nature following its revolution earlier this year, Sunday’s sectarian violence is concerning. BBC has more:

The cabinet has held an emergency meeting ahead of the first funerals of 24 people who died in Sunday’s unrest. [...]

The military called on the government to carry out a quick investigation into the clashes by “forming a fact-finding committee to determine what happened and take legal measures against all those proven to have been involved”.

In a statement read out on state TV, the army also said they would take all necessary measures to maintain security and repeated their commitment to plan for handing power to civilians.

Demonstrators who say they started the protest peacefully claim that they were assaulted by attackers who were wearing plain clothing just before their clashes with security forces commenced. Apparently, some Muslims even came out into the streets to defend the Christians and to rail against the governing council. The results of the clash were gruesome. Reuters reports:

Pictures of smashed faces and dead bodies of what activists said were bodies run over by military vehicles circulated online, with angry comments comparing the violence used by the military to that of Mubarak’s hated police in the uprising.

These events showcase the continued instability that exists in the region.

(H/T: Gateway Pundit)

via theblaze.com

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